In descending order of absurdity, the five honorees this year are: Elon Musk, Rupert Murdoch, Sylvester Stallone, Michael Milken and Martha Stewart.
Seriously?! Yes, I’m afraid so.
The award has been presented annually since 2019 by the Dwight D. Opperman Foundation and was established to “recognize an extraordinary woman who has exerted a positive and notable influence on society and has served as an exemplary role model in both principle and practice.” Previous winners have included Barbra Streisand, Diane Von Furstenburg and Queen Elizabeth II.
The Foundation, established after the death of Mr. Opperman, who was CEO of West Publishing Company and a trustee of NYU Law School for many years, as well as a personal friend of the judge, issued a press release announcing the award which breaks new ground in tonal deafness. for example,
“Justice Ginsburg she became an icon by courageously pursuing her own path and prevailing against all odds,” he said Brendan V. Sullivan, Jr., president of the RBG Prize. “The honorees reflect the integrity and results they have defined By Justice Ginsburg career and legend.” [How, exactly?]
“Regardless of Elon Musk’s stratospheric achievements, in receiving the first RBG Award for Entrepreneurship, Musk’s focus is clear and unwavering: “Freedom of speech is the foundation of democracy,” Musk said.”
“Rupert Murdoch, media’s most iconic living legend, will receive the Media Mogul RBG Award. Murdoch said: “This recognition not only reflects my journey in the media and publishing industry, but also represents tireless advocacy for civil liberties and a commitment to civil discourse that Justice Ginsburg incarnate'”
You could come up with a less appropriate list of honorees, but not easily. It’s truly incredible. Not that the Foundation wants to give awards to incredibly rich white kids; as the saying goes: “I was born on Tuesday, but it wasn’t last Tuesday” and I understand how this game works. But that no one stopped and said “Um, maybe it won’t be so good”? Or “Maybe we should go for the one incredibly rich white guy a year strategy”?
I know both of RBG’s children, record producer James and law professor Jane, and was wondering how they would react to the news. Their response came last weekend with a public announcement: “An affront to our mother’s memory” and “an insult to her name and her legacy,” and a demand that her name be removed from the prize. It seems right.